A Special Day

What constitutes special day?

• The sun is shining.  It was 69 degrees in the afternoon. We are talking about February in Utah. I believe it is a year without winter here.  Here's a little factoid you may not know: In 1815 Mount Tambora in India erupted causing extreme havoc around the world.  In the year of 1816 many countries experienced a year without summer. The cause was attributed to the volcano eruption column that reached into the stratosphere causing global cooling. Crops failed all over the Northeastern states and many people were driven out of their homes. One family was that of Joseph Smith, Sr  He moved his family from Vermont to New York.  Coincidence? There were no Gold Plates buried in Vermont.  This year, only in the West, there is no winter. The Northeast has many feet of snow and below freezing temperatures. But not here. The sun is shining and it is a special day.
• I finally got out of the house to get groceries.  I spent too much money.  Stayed too long looking for Valentine Decorations. But now we have food and burlap.  Good things to have. That is special; now we can eat.  (and decorate) 
• I worked many hours in the black hole craft room. Everything gets piled in there, more and more every day. I bought a tote and filled it with new fabric. Not a dent in the room. But it is a special day, because I went in there and didn't throw up looking at the mess. I saw a little flicker at the end of that tunnel. Work schedules are on hold this week. I must chain myself to the cutting table (a long chain) and see it through to the end.
• Today's Burger Bust is a winner!!!!  From the tiny book, Beans,The El Paso Chili Company, by W Park Kerr comes the tastee recipe, Beef and Black Bean Burgers. I have made this before with ground turkey, but beef is better, you can cook it medium and it is much juicier.  This is a simple recipe with ground beef, black beans and S&P, but the 'special' part is the Cumin Mayo. Sooo YUM.

Beef and Black Bean Burgers

   1 pound ground beef                

   1 cup cooked and drained black beans

   Olive oil

   Salt and freshly ground black pepper

   4 hamburger buns, split and toasted

   Cumin Mayonnaise

In a bowl, lightly but thoroughy mix together the ground beef and beans.  Form into 4 thick patties.

Set a large, heavy skillet over medium heat.  Film the pan with olive oil.  Add the patties and cook until brown, about 4 minutes. Turn the patties and cook until brown and done to your liking, about 3 minutes for medium rare.  Season to taste with salt and pepper.  (Note:  It doesn't grill too well because the beans fall out and it doesn't stay together as well.  You could mash the beans, I suppose.)

Place each burger on the bottom of a bun.  Add a dollop of mayonnaise, cover with a bun top, and serve immediately.

Cumin Mayonnaise

   1/2 cup mayonnaise

   1 1/4 teaspoons ground cumin, preferably from toasted seeds

   2 teaspoons fresh lime juice

   1 teaspoons minced lime zest

In a small bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, cumin, lime juice, and zest. Cover and refrigerate until using. 

Hope you have your own special day.